Memorias de mis putas tristes. The translations for this book by Novel Prize winner Gabriel García Márquez could be Memoirs of my sad prostitutes. The book, like all of García Márquez' writing, was a truly amazing experience. He is one of my favorite writers and this is his first novel in ten years, how could I not read it?
I intended to read it on my plane ride home. After an all-nighter of studying for finals and writing papers, a canceled flight and layovers I was drained of all my energy. Even so, I started reading and after seven hours in a plane the book was finished and I was overwhelmed. I find it hard to explain the feelings that are aroused in me when I read Gabriel García Márquez' books. Searching for words I think of inspired, touched, stirred, moved...somehow these words are not enough.
He says:
"In my ninetieth year, I decided to give myself the gift of a night of love with a young virgin" (Márquez).
The book is about a ninety year old man who, for his birthday, wanted a virgin. She had just entered puberty. What comes after is an account of how this man falls in love with this girl, with her image. He never sees her awake, she is always sleeping. The platonic love story that springs from the words of García Márquez reinforces his position as one of the greatest novelists of all times.
This was an interesting book to read not only for its literary value but for its social and cultural context. A ninety year old man wants to spend his last days with a little girl. This book tells a story of love and of the tribulations of love that haunt the main character.
From this book I learned that not everything is black and white. It's merely grey. We cannot judge the main character for his actions and thoughts because we being to feel for him; sorry, glad, all kinds of feelings emerge.
The prose of García Márquez is astounding and engaging. I was bewitched by this book from the first sentence to the last word. This book makes us reflect on a forgotten sector of society, the aging. With this book we learn to take into account their feelings, needs and desires. We then see the main character as a working class man that has struggled all his life, reflecting both on his life and his present condition. One must wonder how this relates to Gabriel García Márquez, how much of him is in this book.
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